Cluster-lamp socket.



No. 3 3,777. PATENTED APR. 7, 1908.

- R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR.14, 1904. w 2 SHIIETS SHEHT 1f m2 umzms PET RS cm.wAsHmc-rau, n. c.

No. 883,777.; PATENTED APR. 7, 190

R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET. APPLIoATIoN FILED 13.23.14, 1904. I

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n. c THE NoR'Rls FErzns co-, WASHINGTON,

UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRICMANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

CLUSTER-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented April '7, 1908.

Application filed April 14, 1904. Serial No. 203,180.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cluster-LampSockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accom anying drawing, forming apart of this spec' 'cation.

My invention relates to cluster lamp sockets, and has for its objectmeans for mechanically securing, and electrically connecting in circuit,a plurality of incandescent lamps.

The invention further consists in a novel arrangement of the lamps.

I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in the accompanyingdrawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts in theseveral figures, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved socket, showing a portion of theinclosing shell broken away to reveal the interior of the socket; Fig. 2is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3 is a detailview showing the insulating lining for the casing;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my improved socket showing shades for thelamps; Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing shades for the lamps with theinclosing casing in section. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the shadeholder and the method of attaching the shades in position.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I preferably provideasuitable insulating base 1, of porcelain or other such insulatingmaterial, having formed thereon a centrally disposed hollow cylindricalprojection 2, upon which is mounted a contact ring 3, which may be heldin any suitable manner, as by the screws 4, 4, extending through thebase. At any convenient point upon the ring a binding screw 5, isprovided, whereby one of the leading-in wires may be readily connectedto the ring. Concentrically arranged upon the central projection 2 ofthe base are center lamp contacts 6, 6, which are held in position bybeing clamped between the ring 3 and the base. In this manner thesecenter contacts are suitably held in position, and are also inelectrical connection with the ring 3. A contact 7 for a centrallyarranged lamp is also supported from the portion 2 of the base by thescrews 4, 4. This contact is preferably in the form of an arch shapedstrip of metal, the outer ends of which are connected by the screws 4,4, with the ring 3. An aperture 9 is formed in the base 1, whereby theleading-in wires may be readily passed through the base and connected tothe binding posts for the lamp socket.

A substantially hemi-spherical contact plate 10 is also carried by thebase 1, having formed thereon a flange 11, into which are adapted to be,secured screws 12 which pass through the base 1. This contact plate hasformed in the side walls thereof concentrically arranged openingsregistering with the center lamp contacts 6. Secured to the contactplate opposite .these openings are threaded lamp receiving shells 13,which form the ring contacts for the lamps. A centrally disposed openingis formed in the bottom of the contact plate 10, and opposite saidopening is secured a threaded lamp receiving shell 8 adapted to receiveand hold in position a centrally disposed lamp. By this arrangement oflamp-supporting means and contacts, a series of lamps ma bearrangedconcentrically and radially and held in an oblique position, and acentrally-disposed lamp may be supported axially with respect to thecircularly-arranged lamps.

A binding screw 14 is carried upon the underside of the contact plate10, an aperture 15 being formed in the plate through which .a leading-inwire-is adapted to pass and be connected with the binding screw. Asimilar aperture 16 is also formed in the contact plate 10, wherebyaccess to the binding screw 5 may be readily obtained.

An inclosing casing or cover 17 preferably having the form of ahemisphere is adapted to inclose the parts thus described, and isprovided with openings therein which register with the lamp receivingshells 8 and 13, to accommodate the lamp bases. Insulating bushings 18are adapted to screw upon the v of short circuiting is greatest, islined with an insulating material 20, preferably formed of fiber orother non-conducting material. This lining is arranged between the lowerportion of the cover 17, and the lower endof.

the contact plate 10, at which point is located the binding screw 14,and is preferably secured in position within the casing by turning backa small portion 21 sheared out of the casing near the openings therein.By this arrangement, the lining is held in position againstdisplacement, and the turned back ortion of the casing is hidden fromview y the flanges 19 of the bushings 18 whereby the exterior of thecasing does not present a damaged appearance.

Suitable shade holders 22 for supporting lamp shades 23 for the lamps 24are secured upon the exterior of the inclosing casing or cover 17. Theshades may be secured in the shade holders in any desired manner, as bythumb screws 25, and the holders are provided with an annular ring 26which is adapted to fit between the flange 19 of the threaded insulatingbushings and the casing, whereby the shade holder will be secured inposition, and may be readily attached and detached from the socket.

While certain details of construction have been shown and described, itwill be under stood that I do not wish to limit myself to the exactconstruction shown, as there are numerous changes which may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a base, alamp-receiving socket disposed to support a lamp in a line passingthrough the axis of said base, a center contact carried by said base forsaid socket, a series of sockets extending radially from said base andeach disposed to sustain a lamp in an oblique position relatively tosaid base, a center contact carried by said base for each of saidlast-named sockets, and an outer casing provided with an openingopposite each of said sockets.

2. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a base, alamp-holding device disposed to support a lamp in axial relation to saidbase, contacts for said lampholding device, a series of lamp-holdingdevices extending radially from said base and each arranged to sustain alamp in an oblique position relatively to said base, contacts car riedby said base for each of said last-named sockets, and an inclosingcasing provided with an opening opposite each of said sockets.

3. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a base, alamp-receiving socket disposed to support a lamp in axial relation tosaid base, a center contact carried by said base for said socket, aseries of sockets extending radially from said base and each disposed tosustain a lamp in an oblique .pnsition relatively to said base, a centercontact carried by said base for each of said lastnamed sockets, abinding-screw in permanent electrical connection with all of saidsockets, a binding-screw in permanent electrical connection with all ofsaid center contacts, and an outer casing inclosing said 0011* tacts andbinding-screws, said casing being provided with an opening opposite eachof said sockets.

4. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, ahemispherical casing having a central opening and a circularly arrangedseries of openings, a plurality of lam preceiving sockets disposedwithin said casing and registering with said openings, means forsustaining the sockets which register with the circularly arrangedopenings in inclined position relatively to the axis of the casing and acenter contact for each of said sockets.

5. A plural lamp-holding device compris ing, in combination, abowl-shaped casing having a central opening and a circularly-arrangedseries of openings, a plurality of lampholding devices disposed withinsaid casing and registering with said openings, means for sustaining thelamp-holding devices which correspond to the circularly-arrangerlopenings in inclined position relatively to the axis of the casing andcontacts for each of said lamp-holding devices.

6. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, ahemispherical casing having a central opening and a circularlyarrangedseries of openings, a plurality of lamp-holding devices disposed withinsaid casing and registering with said openings, means for sustaining thelamp-holding dcvices which correspond to the circularly-arrangedopenings in. inclined position relatively to the axis of the casing,contacts for each of said lamp-holding devices and binding-screwscarried by said base and in permanent electrical connection with saidcontacts.

7 A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, an insulatingblock, a hemispherical casing having a central opening and a series ofopenings arranged in a of lamp-receiving sockets sustained within saldcasing and registering w1th said openings and a center contact carriedby said msulatvices.

8. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, aninsulating member, a casing having a central opening and a series ofopenings arranged in a circle around said central opening, a pluralityof lamp-receiving circle around said central opening, a plurality ingblock for each of said lamp-holding dcsockets sustained within saidcasing and registering with said openings, a center con tact carried bysaid insulating member for each of said sockets, and means carried bysaid insulating member adapted for connection with a source of currentsup ly, said means being ermanently connecte electrically with saisockets and center contacts.

9. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, aninsulating member, a casing having a central opening and acircularly-arranged series of openings, a plurality of lamp-holdingdevices arranged within said casing so as to register with saidopenings, lamp-terminal-engaging contacts for said lamp-holding devices,and means carried by said insulating member and adapted for connectionwith supply conductors, said means being in permanent electrical connection with the contacts of said sockets.

10. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a casinghaving a central opening and a series of openings disposed around saidcentral opening, means within said casing adjacent each of said openingsfor sustaining an electric lamp, contacts for engagement with theterminals of lamps and means for conducting current to said contacts,said means being permanently connected electrically with said contacts.

11. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a casingprovided with a central opening and a series of openings disposed aroundsaid central opening, means within said casing adjacent each of saidopenings for sustaining an electric lamp, means for engaging theterminals of such lamps, and means ermanently connected electricallywith saicidast-named means and adapted for connection with a source ofcurrent supply.

12. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a casinghaving a central opening and a series of openings disposed around saidcentral opening, means within said casing adjacent each of said openingsfor sustaining an electric lamp, and perma nently organized means forconducting current to the terminals of such lamps.

13. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a casinghaving a central opening and a plurality of openings disposed aroundsaid central opening, asocket adjacent each of said openings and adaptedto receive an electric lamp, permanently-organized means for conductingcurrent to said sockets, center contacts for said sockets,

and permanently organized means for conducting current to said centercontacts.

14. A plural lamp-holdin device comprising, in combination, an insuating member, a casing having a central opening and a series of openingsarranged in a circle around said central opening,.a plurality oflamp-receiving sockets sustained within said casing and registering withsaid openings, a center contact carried by said insulating member foreach of said sockets, and permanently-organized means for conductingcurrent to said contacts and said sockets. I

15. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination a series ofsockets radially disposed, a single socket disposed axially withrelation to said series of sockets, means for supporting said socketsand electrically connecting the same with each other, an insulatingmember, a center contact for each of said sockets, said contacts beingsupported by said insulating member in proper position relative to saidsockets, and means in permanent electrical connection with said centercontacts for connection with a source of current sup 1y.

16. A pluraFlamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a centrallydisposed lamp-receiving socket, a plurality of sockets dis osed radiallywith relation to the axis of said first-named socket, means forpermanently connecting all of said sockets electrically with each other,a center contact for each of said sockets, all of said center contactsbeing permanently connected electrically with each other.

17. A plural lamp-holding device comprising, in combination, a centrallydisposed lamp-receivin socket, a plurality of sockets dis osed radia lywith relation to the axis of sai first-named socket, means forsupporting said sockets and permanently connecting all of said socketselectrically with each other, a center contact for each of said sockets,permanently organized means for conducting current to said sockets andcontacts, said last-named means being adapted for connection with asource of current suppl all of said center contacts being permanent yconnected electrically with each other.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two wit- C. B. CAMP, WALTER E. MCCORMAOK.

